Lightly grease a 2-quart casserole or other glass baking dish with a lid. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Generously butter bread slices on both sides and cut into 1 inch cubes. Peel and core apples; quarter and slice *thinly.* (The slices don't have to be paper thin, but you don't want large chunks.) Put a layer of bread cubes in the casserole. Cover with a layer of apple slices. Sprinkle with a few tablespoons of sugar, several dashes of cinnamon, and a few dots of butter. Repeat, finishing with a layer of apples. Bake with lid on until apples are tender, about 45 minutes. Remove lid and bake another 15 minutes to let top layer get a little crisp. Serve hot, plain, or with cream or ice cream.